英语听力 暮光之城•暮色 第123期:第八章 天使港(8)

 I reached the corner, but a swift glance revealed that it was only a blind drive to the back of another building. 我走到拐角处，飞快地瞥了一眼，发现那只是通往另一幢建筑物的断头路。

I was half-turned in anticipation¹; 我中途改变了主意。

I had to hurriedly correct and dash across the narrow drive, back to the sidewalk. 我不得不赶紧改变方向，冲过那条狭窄的车道，然后回到人行道上。

The street ended at the next corner, where there was a stop sign. 这条道路在下一个拐角处中断了。那里有一个停下的标志。

I concentrated on the faint footsteps behind me, deciding whether or not to run. 我把注意力集中在身后微弱的脚步声上，考虑着要不要逃跑。

They sounded farther back, though, and I knew they could outrun me in any case. 但是，他们听起来在背后更远的地方，而且我知道无论如何他们都会跑过我的。

I was sure to trip and go sprawling² if I tried to go any faster. 如果我试图跑快些，我一定会被绊到，然后躺倒在地上。

The footfalls were definitely farther back. 脚步声显然是从后面更远的地方传来的。

I risked a quick glance over my shoulder, and they were maybe forty feet back now, I saw with relief. 我冒险飞快地向肩膀后扫了一眼，然后宽慰地看到，他们现在在离我大概有四十英尺的距离。

But they were both staring at me. 但他们都在盯着我。

It seemed to take forever for me to get to the corner. 我似乎永远也不可能走到拐角处。

I kept my pace steady, the men behind me falling ever so slightly farther behind with every step. 我尽量让自己的步子踏得稳一些，那两个被我远远地抛在后面的男人每一步都走得那么的轻。

Maybe they realized they had scared me and were sorry. 也许是他们意识到自己吓着我了，所以感到抱歉。

I saw two cars going north pass the intersection³ I was heading for, and I exhaled⁴ in relief. 我看见两辆车一路向北开进了我正在前往的那个十字路口，我宽慰地松了口气。

There would be more people around once I got off this deserted⁵ street. 等我离开这条荒芜的街道的时候，周围一定会有更多人的。

I skipped around the corner with a grateful sigh. 我轻快地跳过拐角，感激地叹了口气。

And skidded⁶ to a stop. 然后脚下一滑，停在那里。

The street was lined on both sides by blank, doorless, windowless walls. 这条街道两旁全是空白的，没有门窗的墙。

I could see in the distance, two intersections⁷ down, streetlamps, cars, and more pedestrians⁸, but they were all too far away. 我能看见在远处两个十字路口以外的地方，有街灯，有车流，还有更多的行人，但那些都太远了。

Because lounging against the western building, midway down the street, were the other two men from the group, 因为在这条街的中部，在西边的建筑物旁闲逛着的，正是那伙人中另外两个。

both watching with excited smiles as I froze dead on the sidewalk. 当我僵在人行道上的时候，他们都兴奋地笑着看着我。

I realized then that I wasn't being followed. 然后我意识到，我没有被跟踪。

I was being herded⁹. 我被堵截了。

1 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

2 sprawling   

adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawling in an armchair in front of the TV. 他伸开手脚坐在电视机前的一张扶手椅上。
• a modern sprawling town 一座杂乱无序拓展的现代城镇

3 intersection   

n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集

参考例句：

• There is a stop sign at an intersection.在交叉路口处有停车标志。
• Bridges are used to avoid the intersection of a railway and a highway.桥用来避免铁路和公路直接交叉。

4 exhaled   

v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气

参考例句：

• He sat back and exhaled deeply. 他仰坐着深深地呼气。
• He stamped his feet and exhaled a long, white breath. 跺了跺脚，他吐了口长气，很长很白。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

5 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

6 skidded   

v.（通常指车辆） 侧滑( skid的过去式和过去分词 )；打滑；滑行；（住在）贫民区

参考例句：

• The car skidded and hit a lamp post. 那辆汽车打滑撞上了路灯杆。
• The car skidded and overturned. 汽车打滑翻倒了。

7 intersections   

n.横断( intersection的名词复数 )；交叉；交叉点；交集

参考例句：

• Traffic lights have been placed at all major intersections. 所有重要的交叉路口都安装了交通信号灯。
• Intersections are of the greatest importance in highway design. 在道路设计中，交叉口占有最重要的地位。 来自辞典例句

8 pedestrians   

n.步行者( pedestrian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Several pedestrians had come to grief on the icy pavement. 几个行人在结冰的人行道上滑倒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Pedestrians keep to the sidewalk [footpath]! 行人走便道。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 herded   

群集，纠结( herd的过去式和过去分词 )； 放牧； （使）向…移动

参考例句：

• He herded up his goats. 他把山羊赶拢在一起。
• They herded into the corner. 他们往角落里聚集。